Sajith listening to outsiders and ignoring SJBers: Ranil

• Harsha however holds same views as us

By Yohan Perera   
Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa is ignoring those in his own party and listening to outsiders. This is why he decided to not to participate in the debt restructuring process, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday.   
President Wickremesinghe told a UNP rally in Kuliyapitiya that Mr. Premadasa had actually begun ignoring and sidelining his own party men such as Dr. Harsha de Silva.   
“Dr De Silva requested me to involve the opposition in the debt restructuring process. Accordingly, I invited the SJB to join us in meeting the IMF and debtors. However I was informed by Mr. Premadasa that his party is not willing to participate in those meeting. 

 It was MP G. L. Peiris who wanted Mr. Premadasa to ignore my request. Mr. Premadasa has actually begun to ignore his own party men. SJB is controlled by the outsiders. Therefore I invite those who went against me in the past to join us,” the President said.   
 “ I spoke to the IMF Managing Director when I was an opposition MP in 2022. IMF offered to assist Sri Lanka. I therefore met former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa before he resigned and told him to seek IMF support. However, some senior state officers prevented it during that time,” the President also revealed.   
Also Mr. Wickremesinghe said Dullas Alahapperuma and the Premadasa met former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and sought SLPP support for Mr. Alahapperuma to get himself elected as the President after the resignation of Gotabaya Rajapaksa.   
UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene said incumbent President Wickremesinghe will be elected to the presidency for another term no matter what election is held.  
“The UNP will win even a General election and will be able to ensure that Mr. Wickremesinghe will be elected to another term,” he said. He said the first shot has been fired to make him the head of state. Some who had left us in the past will come back to the fold,” he also said.